Robin Scott investigates how to find affordable roughshooting and what it costs
Shooting Times
How do I keep my dogs warm in kennels in winter?
I have two labradors kenneled outside and want to sort out the best type of bedding for them for the coming winter.
Training a golden retriever
A question about golden retriever training Q: After many years of having Labradors, I have bought a working-bred golden retriever puppy. I know this breed has a reputation for being…
What’s the accuracy of lead-free bullets?
Lead-free ammunition is definitely making its presence felt and I am increasingly hearing from readers who have concerns about lead-free bullets and accuracy. Here’s an example of just one such…
A recipe for salt baked rabbit
A very good way of cooking rabbit This was an experiment that surprisingly turned out to be a very good way of cooking rabbit. Traditionally, salt-baking is used for meat…
Now sprockers, springadors and even cockerpoos can try for a Working Gundog Certificate
For many years the Kennel Club has operated a form of canine apartheid. Only dogs that are pure-bred and registered with the Club are allowed to enter field trials. Working…
Volvo XC40 – could it be right up your country lane?
I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of this cheeky little number from Volvo. The Volvo XC40 is the youngest sibling in the XC family and, though billed as an “urban…
“How many of us would have heard of Chris Packham if he wasn’t on the BBC?”
The BBC’s new director-general, Tim Davie, has rattled the corporation’s cage. But will his stated priority of restoring BBC impartiality be achieved? In 2016 the corporation spent £139,260 on subscriptions…
How Northumbria Police are tackling rural crime
Dealing with illegally coursing hares and deer If tables could tell stories, the one in the Northumbria Police rural crime team office would have some extraordinary tales. In the days…
Savage 110 Ultralite
Verdict on the Savage 110 Ultralite rifle Savage always produces rifles that are aimed at real hunters who want performance over aesthetics — and that’s not me being rude, it’s…
Wild boar shooting in the UK
Wild boar shooting in the UK is permitted as boar are legal quarry and currently have no close season — they are not protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act…
What is expected of a loader on a shoot?
A loader should stand by, deftly handling the Shot a loaded gun while swiftly reloading the empty one, as overhead the birds soar over in a never-ending stream. But is…
Recipe for grouse bresaola – ideal for using older birds
This recipe is ideal for using older grouse and it is rather decadent. It is a version of a classic beef dish from Italy — lightly cured and then air-dried…
The secrets of successful duck flighting
There is hardly a more exciting sound in the world of shooting than the rush of air through duck wings as they drop in at evening flight. Every time I…
The evolution of an Italian design classic
It’s one of the best-known, best-selling shotgun designs of all time, but does that make the Beretta Silver Pigeon or 68 series one of the best guns of all time?…
How to help an older dog suffering from deafness
Q: Our old gundog is starting to become deaf, probably due to his age. Is there anything to help hearing loss in older dogs? A: Certainly the most common form of…
Harissa-marinated and grilled partridge
Partridge is a great entry to the world of gamebirds. The meat is succulent, white and very palatable to anyone who is discovering game for the first time. At this…
Why Holland & Holland ‘Royal’ guns are sought after
Mark Sullivan works quietly at his bench, producing the heart of many bespoke gun-building projects. An auctioneer by trade, he used to work at Holland & Holland. Now he works…
Field trials for gundogs during the COVID pandemic – what you need to know
The Kennel Club has issued extensive guidance for staging field trials for dogs during the pandemic. Last month, the International Gundog League (IGL) cancelled this year’s Retriever Championship. It was…
What happens to my gun when I’m at the shoot lunch?
Err on the side of caution when it comes to gun security